"It was a classic hard-fought encounter. Augsburg sat back and didn't leave as much space. But in the end we definitely deserved to win. Now we have to carry on picking up points," said Kai Havertz. The new sporting director Simon Rolfes said: "Iin the closing stages we lost our shape and control because we failed to wrap it up with the second goal before that. Now we want to keep climbing the table up to Christmas."
There were three changes to the starting eleven compared with the Monday night game against FC Nürnberg: Jonathan Tah replaced the injured Sven Bender in central defence, Julian Baumgartlinger came in for Dominik Kohr in defensive midfield and Leon Bailey played on the left flank in place of Julian Brandt. Kevin Volland made his 200th Bundesliga appearance against Augsburg who were again able to call on their top striker Alfred Finnbogason.
It took just seven minutes for the first attempt on goal by the Werkself when a shot from Baumgartlinger was blocked. Charles Aránguiz then hit a left-foot volley into the side netting on eight minutes. Two minutes later it was the Chilean again who beat Andre Hahn in the penalty area and looped a shot to the far corner but Andreas Luthe was able to get under it at the right moment (10'). The Werkself were camped in the Augsburg half and on the front foot. A header from Havertz from a Bailey corner went just wide of the upright (13') – that was nearly the opening goal. Lars Bender down the right and Tin Jedvaj down the left increasingly got involved in attacks and FCA had difficulty in escaping from the clutches of the Werkself.
When Bailey flicked on the ball for Havertz to head goalwards, Luthe was just able to keep the ball out of the back of the net (18'). At the other end, Finnbogason had two shots with the first missing and then Lukas Hradecky holding onto the second (22'). Then the clearly superior Werkself came again: Aránguiz, setting the rhythm and pace, hit a free kick just past the top corner (25'). A diagonal ball from the much improved Bailey saw Volland accidentally catch Luthe with his knee as he saved he ball and the FCA keeper had to be treated but was able to carry on (30'). Lars Bender aimed at the top corner of the Augsburg goal but his effort went over the bar (39'). The clearly dominant Werkself were unable to find the back of the net in the first half.
The two sides came out for the second half unchanged with Bayer 04 now playing towards the North Stand and their most loyal fans. From the edge of the box, Volland aimed a shot to the far corner but an opposition leg got in the way (51'). Shortly after that there were three chances in quick succession for the hosts after good work from Bailey: Volland just failed to nutmeg Luthe, Havertz' attempt on the rebound was blocked by Martin Hinteregger and then Bellarabi fired the ball over the bar (55').
The Werkself pressed to find a decisive breakthrough. Tah had to go off injured and he was replaced by Wendell. Jedvaj moved into central defence (64'). Heiko Herrlich then made a double change up front: Lucas Alario and Brandt came on for Aránguiz and Bailey (72'). And the substitution produced immediate success: A Wendell cross from the left was turned back into the centre by Lars Bender from the other side of the box and Alario was in exactly the right spot as he hit his shot back across Luthe to give the Werkself a highly deserved lead (75'). The sub broke the deadlock.
Then lady luck shined on the hosts: Ji hit the underside of the bar with a deflected left-foot shot (81'). Sergio Córdova hit the ball just over the target with a scissor kick (89'). There was four minutes of added time. Alario was a second too late against Luthe who again risked all (90 +2'). Baumgartlinger then blocked a shot from Córdova and Rani Khedira only found the outside of the net with his effort. Then came the final whistle – with a deserved 1-0 victory for the hosts at the end of the day.
The fixtures come thick and fast for Bayer 04. The Werkself have their final group match in the Europa League on Thursday 13 December at 21.00 CET away to AEK Larnaca and that is followed three days later by an away fixture in the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt (Sunday, 16 December, 18.00 CET).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – L. Bender, Tah (Wendell 64'), Dragovic, Jedvaj – Baumgartlinger, Aránguiz (Alario 72') – Bellarabi, Havertz, Bailey (Brandt 72') – Volland
FC Augsburg: Luthe – Framberger, Gouweleeuw, Hinteregger, Max – Khedira, Baier – Hahn (Richter 81’), Gregoritsch, Caiuby (Córdova 87’) – Finnbogason (Ji 61’)
Goals: 1-0 Alario (75’)
Referee: Dankert (Rostock)
Booked: Bailey – Gouweleeuw, Richter
Attendance:25,558
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